What happened to Isaac?

Isaac rushed to where Robert was without stopping.

The cemetery is on a hill in the suburbs, and there is a palm-sized Catholic church at the foot of the hill, which is very deserted even on Sundays.Along the way, the trees along the road were sparsely shaded, casting a large amount of light and shadow, and the ground was covered with thick yellow leaves like a carpet.The small pavilion of the cemetery looks like it could be blown down by a gust of wind, and the rusty iron gate outside the cemetery is covered with dead vines.

"Who are you?" asked the old man guarding the grave.

"He came to visit the grave," Isaac said, "I am the nephew of the abbot who was hanged some time ago."

The gravekeeper looked suspiciously at Isaac, who was empty-handed, and finally got out of the way.

Isaac walked into the cemetery.

A child rushed forward with a playful smile and hugged Isaac's leg, hugging him firmly, which surprised him.The child raised his face, looked at Isaac who had stopped in his tracks, looked down at himself, blinked his eyes and started crying, "Wow--", and ran away crying, shouting as he ran: " He's not human!"

Isaac: "..."

Hearing this movement, many pairs of inquiring eyes appeared from behind the tombstone, and a young female voice exclaimed: "Look, he has a tail!"

"This guy is a devil."

"Can he see us?"

A burst of whispering made Isaac's head hurt from the noise.

Maybe people only feel silent and desolate when they go to visit the cemetery, but in fact, most cemeteries are very lively and can basically maintain half the occupancy rate-the residents of these cemeteries are the so-called wandering spirits.

Not all souls are willing to forget their past and reincarnate.Although a person can only have the memory of this life when he is alive, there are also many sensitive souls who will feel tired because of this endless cycle. They have been faintly doubting the meaning of reincarnation, and finally chose to stop after a certain death, maybe There is no special opportunity.In addition, the most common reason is nostalgia for the world.Too many dead are reluctant to forget their living relatives. If they are lucky enough and patient in the afternoon, they may be able to wait until the day they are buried with friends or loved ones, so that life can continue after death.

Of course, not everyone is satisfied with their tomb site, and there are some unfortunate examples: in 233, a man discovered that his ex-wife, who was poisoned to death by his own hands, was buried on his left hand after a hundred years, and was so frightened that he was reincarnated overnight— —This example was selected into the book "Research on Human Diversity" because it is too classic.

Cough, it's getting far away, let's turn our attention back to Isaac.

"Okay, stop arguing!" he said impatiently, fearing that the voice would disturb the invisible gravekeeper. "Does anyone know an abbot surnamed Robert? He came this summer."

The few wandering souls who were close to him looked at each other, the child just now went back and forth, trying to catch his tail to play with.Isaac glared at him, and the child was not afraid now. He grinned and said with a smile: "I know everyone, but I have never heard of the person you mentioned. He may have been reincarnated."

"I'm sure not," Isaac said. "What about the others, do you know?"

"Robert? There are many Roberts here, none of whom seem to have been abbots..."

"Johannes Robert?"

"He's just a priest!"

The wandering spirits chirped again.

At this time, a middle-aged female wandering spirit leaning on the tombstone and drinking said: "I may have a clue, but, devil, can you bring me a bottle of wine next time when you have time? My son only brings me one bottle a year." Bottle, you are too stingy."

"Go and steal from the store outside!" A young wandering spirit booed.

"I won't do it!"

Afraid that they would start chatting like this, Isaac hurriedly said, "No problem, I promise you. Tell me quickly."

"Let me ask you: Is the abbot you speak of the one who was hanged?" "Yes."

"What an ignominious way to die. You go as far south as you can, right to the end of the cemetery. His grave isn't there, but he might be."

"Can you take me?" Isaac asked.

The drinking woman shook her head, and the other wandering spirits found excuses and went back underground.

Isaac sighed and had to go south alone.The grass under my feet is getting thicker and thicker, and there are not many tombstones here, which can be said to be inaccessible.

He saw a figure sitting on a big rock in the distance.Isaac stepped lightly and approached the man from behind. When he got very close, he coughed, put his hands in his pockets, and said casually, "Long time no see, Robert."

The man turned his head, revealing a calm vicissitudes of face, who else could it be if it wasn't Robert from the monastery?

No wonder the spirits said he would be here.On the southernmost side of the cemetery, you can see the church at the foot of the mountain. Just after the hour, the bells echoed slowly, like ripples on the water.

"Long time no see, Mr. Isaac."

said Robert gently.

He is very old.He has gray hair, dim eyes, short stature, and always has a straight face, but he is not vicious.It's hard to imagine that he killed so many people. However, half of the hemp rope used for hanging is still hanging around his neck, showing his identity - he could have untied it, but now it is not known if it is a useless atonement .

"You're not popular here," said Isaac.

"Yes, it's a pity. There are many thieves, prostitutes, poor young people, sick children and old people who were crucified in coffins before they died, but there are no murderers."

Isaac was silent for a while: "It's like coming to a new place, you don't need to tell them."

"why not?"

Isaac asked, "Why are you still wandering around the world?"

Robert laughed dryly twice.He spread out his left hand, and in the palm of his hand was a lily whose petals had begun to wither.He said, "Gavin came to put it on my grave the day before yesterday."

"You and Gavin have a deep relationship," Isaac said.

He was also sitting on the rock, and Robert moved aside to make room for him.

After Isaac sat down, he didn't speak for a while, just said: "If you don't mind..." Then he lit a cigarette.His tail wagged back and forth, filling the gap in the silence.

He is very bad at talking, let alone clichés.After a while, Isaac asked, "Need I introduce me to you?"

Robert said, "I can see your tail."

"Very well, then I won't say much," Isaac nodded, "but there is one thing I'm not sure you know, Langdon—I mean Xavier, he's an angel."

"Mr. Xavier does look like an angel."

"He's dying now."

"You can come back from the dead."

"I'm afraid it won't work this time."

"why?"

"He was sentenced to death for betrayal, and even his soul is doomed."

Hearing this, Robert did not show any surprise, but was a little melancholy.He said: "It's never good to be too smart. He's getting to the bottom of more than a murder..."

"What do you know?"

"I'm afraid it's too much."

"I happen to know a lot. If you ask me, the one who framed Xavier was probably an angel, and it can even be said that it directly led to Xavier's execution." Isaac said.

Isaac hoped that Robert would agree or deny subconsciously, but Robert was more sensitive than he imagined, and just said lightly: "Mr. Isaac, not only you can meet me and talk to me. I didn't expect that everyone would If you die, you still can't be free from worries, I really don't like that."

"It's relatively free. Let me tell you straight, I want the monastery's ledger. We must find the angel who framed Xavier and bring him down so that Xavier may have a chance to overturn the case." .”

"...Mr. Isaac. I'd love to know, why do you think I'd be willing to help a man," Robert paused, "a man who put me on the gallows? I'm a murderer. How could I Will reach out to the detective?"

"Won't you?" Isaac asked back, "I thought it was your credit that Xavier didn't die immediately when he got home."

The words seemed to startle Robert.It was a moment before he said: "...Mr. Xavier has done nothing wrong after all. He is pious, better than some ignorant students in the abbey."

"I thank you for your affirmation on his behalf, but we don't have much time to lose." Isaac said.

Robert said: "...No, no, I can only tell you that it was not my intention to poison Xavier, it was the man's request. Putting sweet antifreeze in his bread was not enough , the man also forced me to poison the communion, even if it was only Mr. Xavier's share... But I had no choice. After you left, the man came to the monastery to ask for the ledger."

"So you want to say, you don't have a ledger?"

"Yes, there is nothing I can do."

"You think I'm going to believe you died so unprepared?"

"But that's the way it is."

"Gavin is a good boy," Isaac said suddenly.

Robert gave him a strange look, but said nothing.

"If you ask me, the guy who used you has no mercy," said Isaac, "and if my boy happened to know him, I'd sleepless nights worrying. Do you dream of Gavin, Robert? Dream of him." Murdered for his involvement in it, he's going to die somewhere you don't know, and everyone thinks it was an accident. Gastroenteritis, consistent answer."

Robert didn't answer.

Isaac went on to say: "If my boy happened to know this man, I wouldn't let him catch him. How? If he happens to be a copyist who is good at reading and imitating handwriting, it will be very simple. .”

"...you speak the truth. Don't judge by appearances, Mr. Isaac."

"If you've ever had a child, of course you know what other parents think," Isaac said.

"It seems that you really have some experience." Robert concluded, he obviously didn't intend to continue talking.

But at this moment, he found that his gaze would inevitably fall on Isaac's constantly wagging tail.Some words that were about to rot in my stomach suddenly came out involuntarily:

"About that man - I'm in a position to be passively controlled by him, but I'm not too stupid. The night before he offered to repossess the ledger, Gavin and I forged a fake ledger, including signatures on some of the receipts In it, and then give it to him. The nuances between true and false can only be noticed by professionals. I don't think he will find out in a while, otherwise I probably won't have a chance to talk to you.

"I know that Gavin needs some non-lethal bargaining chips. You can't give him the ledger directly. It may be a crime, but it is very dangerous. What should I do? I think, if he can know the news about the real ledger, but at the same time It’s good if you don’t know the whole picture. In case of accidents, this can delay that person, at least he won’t kill Gavin easily until he gets definite clues to find the ledger.”

"So, where is the real ledger?"

Isaac asked eagerly.

Maybe he shouldn't have asked that question.Robert's slack eyes suddenly became firm again, his lips trembled, and then they were tightly pursed, without saying a word, like a clam shell that cannot be pried open.

"I'm getting old. I've had enough of being fooled by you guys... being fooled by you. Isaac, if there's one thing I'm even going to keep from Gavin, it's not Tell you, even in the face of magic. I'm sorry about what happened to Xavier, but there's nothing you can do. Put your tail up," said Robert, "a human soul must seem ridiculously fragile to you , but I will never be influenced by you again."

As he spoke, Robert's lost figure disappeared into the air, and Isaac hurriedly stretched out his hand without grabbing anything.Wandering Soul is this annoying, no one can stop him when he wants to leave.

As a last resort, Isaac could only set off immediately to find Gavin, hoping to hear the whereabouts of the account book from him.

After Robert's death, Gavin also left the monastery and is currently serving in a small remote parish. Only here will he not be affected by his adoptive father's identity as a murderer.

Isaac inquired about his specific residence, and found that Gavin, who had lost the care of his adoptive father, was tanned due to daily work, but looked much healthier than the previous sickly appearance, and his illness only showed signs of illness when he coughed.If his slightly hunched back was straight, he might be considered a tall young man, but Gavin always lowered his head like a castrated ram, not knowing what was going on in his heart.

When Isaac walked over, Gavin saw him from a distance, put down his work, and ran away - he was caught back within two steps.

"Let's talk," said Isaac, "I'll ask and you'll answer."

Gavin looked at Isaac, his eyes began to straighten.

Despite all kinds of changes, Gavin has not become a strong person, at least not as good as his adoptive father.Only the simplest charm technique was needed to make him stare straight and answer every question. However, when it came to the account book, he seemed to know nothing. No matter how hard Isaac asked, he would just repeat murmured a word:

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD has laid upon him our sins..."